"I agree that it should be a user fee basis, that the person who gets the ticket should pay. But …why in the world does it cost $15 for two computers to talk to one other and just do a quick check?" he said.

The fee took effect on April 1, taking a huge bite out of the revenue tickets generated for the city and police department.

City council can't increase the cost of tickets covered under provincial laws, such as speeding and red light infractions, so the $15 fee will continue to dip into the police department's budget.

Alberta is expecting to bring in an extra $12 million a year by raising the fees it charges to look up the owners of vehicles. The demand for the information is increasing and the province can't keep absorbing the rising cost, said a Service Alberta spokeswoman.